From: Biniam Tekle (biniamt@dehai.org)
Date: Tue Jul 13 2010 - 12:54:00 EDT
http://tripolipost.com/articledetail.asp?c=1&i=4710
Libya Allows 400 Eritreans to Work in the Country as Guests
13/07/2010 17:35:00
Despite the problems stemming from the huge number of illegal immigrants in
Libya, Tripoli decided on Thursday to grant about 400 Eritreans permission
to stay and work.
"The relevant authorities have begun taking steps to welcome and integrate
these clandestine Eritrean immigrants to prevent them being exploited or put
in danger by human traffickers," a statement issued on Thursday by the GPC
for Foreign Liaison and International Cooperation in Tripoli.
The statement said Libya would "ensure them a decent life and access to
employment suitable to their professional abilities."
"The Eritrean embassy in Tripoli is going to deliver identity cards to those
concerned so that those who want to can stay in Libya," the statement said.
As a result of the difficult situation in some African and Arab countries,
Libya has become a crossing point for millions of illegal migrants and in
the process it is currently facing demographic, security, health dangers as
well as a heavy economic burden.
Illegal migrants enter the country through over 5500 kilometers long of land
borders with six African countries. This is in addition to about 2000
kilometers of sea cost on the Mediterranean.
The Libyan official statement said the number of illegal immigrants has
reached at one point three million people.
Despite the effort that Libya is doing in helping illegal migrants, the
statement stressed, "there will always be those migrants who would die in
the desert and in the sea unless there are realistic policies that deal with
the very reasons that lead these immigrants to leave their countries."
"This can only be done," said the statement, "through the establishment of
dialogue between the countries of origin, the countries of destiny and the
countries which form crossing points."
The statement added that "this dialogue should lead to a commitment by the
countries of the destiny to carry the burden of creating development and
investment projects in the countries of source of illegal immigration; and
to support the crossing point countries materially and technically in order
for them to help in the fight of such phenomenon."
Meanwhile, the International Organization for Migration in Tripoli confirmed
that Libya had agreed to find the Eritreans employment on public works
projects.
On Tuesday, Amnesty International called on Libya not to repatriate the
Eritreans, who include refugees and asylum seekers as well as migrants,
because of fears they could face torture or other ill-treatment as
punishment for "betraying" the country or fleeing military service.
The action over the Eritrean refugees and asylum-seekers comes amid a row
between Libya and the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees over
the agency's work in the country.
Libya has accused the UNHCR representative had been offering refugee status
in exchange for sex and money and the international organization has said it
was taking the matter seriously and would investigate it.
Also the UNHCR said last month that it had been allowed to resume part of
its work following talks over Libya's initial decision to expel the agency.
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